A few days ago I was journaling and I decided to write a love letter to Jesus. At the end of the letter I wrote: “You reign in my life Lord. You reign.” A few hours later it began to rain outside. At first the rain was light and then it was a complete downpour. It was that heavy type of rain that cars have to slow down to 10 mph in order to even see the road. I was outside under a building and my car was kind of far away so I had two options:
1. I could run to my car and get soaked before I got there
So in a parking lot, by myself, I began to run in the rain. I don’t mean I jogged ran around in circles, I was full out sprinting! I was running with passion and fire as I felt the joy of being a child again. I then began to uncontrollably laugh. I mean I felt crazy! What sane person runs around outside, in the middle of an empty parking lot, playing in the rain?!
I tell you this experience because it was so much more than feeling like a child again and enjoying the rain. As the days come closer towards leaving in a few weeks for the mission field, I constantly feel fear and doubt creeping in. But when I was outside running around the rain, I felt complete joy and peace. I felt God’s sweet presence surrounding me and I kept picturing God laughing at me as I enjoyed His creation running in the rain. Once I was out of breath from running, I just opened my arms up and surrendered as an outward sign of love and joy for my Father. It was as if I could literally feel God cleansing and purifying me as the rain washed away all of my fears and His grace was covering me.
Usually when it rains, we grab an umbrella, put on our rain boots, and dread going outside. We don’t look forward to getting wet or having our hair get frizzy. We even enjoy the fact that rain can serve as an excuse to be lazy. People usually don’t like the rain, they try to avoid it, even change their plans throughout the day so they don’t have to go outside.
For quite a long time I avoided God’s calling to be a missionary as I hid from the calling He has placed on my life. I put Jesus in a box and I put myself in a box as well. I did not believe I was good enough or qualified enough to serve as a missionary on the World Race. I doubted God and sometimes, I still do. Sometimes I ask myself why did I sign up for this thing? Am I really ready for this? What if I fail? How can God really use me?
But I refuse to live in these lies!!! I know God is calling me into greatness and I have accepted the honor of being a missionary not because I am worthy, but because God wants to use me. This is His plan for me and there is no need for doubt.
So the next time there is a rain storm, without hesitation, I will dance in the rain.
Isaiah 45: 8
